Fatherhood, Hong Kong Life, and Building a Global Business School

This life update covers significant changes in personal life, particularly fatherhood and living in Hong Kong, as well as major developments in the business, including a new office and a refined vision for its offerings.

Life Update: Fatherhood and Hong Kong Living

Being a dad has become significantly more engaging since the baby girl started walking and interacting more. The initial "potato" phase at four months evolved into a much more enjoyable experience around the eight-month mark, with new skills being learned each month, such as climbing stairs unassisted. She has also started saying a few words like "mommy," "daddy," and "peace" (for "please").

A major life-changer has been the affordable and readily available childcare in Hong Kong, including a full-time, 24/7 nanny. This support allows for regular date nights and flexibility for work, a stark contrast to friends in Western countries without similar professional childcare. A month-long trip to London without professional help highlighted the challenges of balancing childcare with work and other responsibilities, leading to a deeper appreciation for the Hong Kong setup.

The flexibility of the speaker's work, which involves making videos, allows for a personalized daily routine. For example, mornings include exercise, a walk with the baby to a coffee shop for a "baby chino," and then dropping her off at playgroup with the nanny before starting work.

The "Optimal Time" Dilemma

A recurring question is how much time is ideal to spend with a child. While 24/7 is excessive and zero is insufficient, finding the "sweet spot" is a challenge, especially with the freedom to choose. The speaker notes that spending 12 hours a day with a 16-month-old isn't always fun, preferring one or two hours of quality time. This internal conflict was amplified when the baby cried "daddy" for the first time upon being left with the nanny, prompting guilt. The speaker seeks advice from other parents on balancing quality versus quantity time, especially when work is enjoyable and not solely for financial support.

Future Family Plans and Schooling

The family has signed another two-year lease on their flat in Hong Kong and a three-year lease for a new office, indicating a long-term commitment to the city. They are exploring Montessori and Waldorf schooling options, having been impressed by the articulate and bright children at open days. The speaker, who was a "goodie two shoes" student, now sees the value in these alternative educational methods. There's a desire for more children, with an ambitious goal of five, though this is acknowledged as a discussion with the wife.

Hong Kong Life and Social Connections

Hong Kong has proven to be a long-term home, offering great weather, diverse activities, and a unique blend of cultures. The speaker enjoys the current central location but envisions moving to a beachside suburb in the future.

A "boys group" of 12 entrepreneurs and business owners has been formed, meeting weekly for pickleball and dinner. This initiative stemmed from a realization about male loneliness in one's 30s, especially for married men with children, where wives often manage the social calendar. The speaker actively took on the organizing role, leading to valuable male friendships.

Health-wise, a personal trainer is used a couple of times a week, and a non-negotiable daily morning exercise routine (running or swimming) has been implemented.

Travel and Chinese Spas

Travel with a 16-month-old is challenging, so most trips are for work events, team offsites, or family weddings. However, mainland China is easily accessible, leading to discoveries like 24/7 spas in Shenzhen and Guangzhou. These spas offer an incredible experience for about $30 USD for a 24-hour pass, including hot tubs, cold plunges, saunas, all-you-can-eat buffets, private bedrooms, and on-demand massages. The speaker aims to make these spa trips a monthly ritual and plans to explore more of mainland China, and later Southeast Asia, once the baby is older and can follow instructions during flights.

Reflections and Five-Year Plan

Despite the challenges, life is described as "pretty good," with a healthy family, flexible work, and financial freedom. The five-year plan includes having more children, moving to a larger, more luxurious home (like a penthouse in Repulse Bay, despite the $50,000/month rent), achieving better physical fitness, and maintaining a thriving marriage. The current life, though somewhat routine, offers enough variety and flexibility to be enjoyable and fulfilling.

Work Update: Building a Business School and Software Empire

The speaker expresses renewed excitement for work, a feeling that was somewhat stagnant during the first half of 2025 due to the focus on the YouTube Academy, which no longer felt purposeful. A mentor, Ollie Richards, helped clarify the vision: to build the world's best online business school. Overcoming initial limiting beliefs about being perceived as a "scammer" for teaching people to make money, the team launched the "1K Challenge" in summer 2025, helping 1,300 people make their first online income. This success was highly motivating and led to the creation of the Lifestyle Business Academy.

Lifestyle Business Academy

The Lifestyle Business Academy aims to be the world's best online business school, surpassing traditional MBAs. In the past 12 months, it has helped hundreds of students quit their jobs. The team has grown significantly, with 15 new members dedicated to the academy, including seven coaches, three admissions advisors, a sales director, client success director, product lead, ops lead, and marketing lead. Live sessions are held three times a week, and in-person events have taken place in London and are planned for Austin.

Business Structure: Content, Academy, and Software

The business operates with three main arms:

1. Content: This involves YouTube videos, Instagram posts, and plans to expand to LinkedIn, Twitter, and email newsletters with a new writer. Content is viewed as teaching at scale, focusing on personal development, productivity, and building a business, all aimed at helping people build a life they love.
2. Academy: This is the Lifestyle Business Academy, focused on building the world's best online business school. It serves as the primary cash flow engine, offering high-margin informational courses with coaching, community, and curriculum.
3. Software: Currently, there are three apps:
   • Voice Pal: A "ghostwriter in your pocket" that transcribes speech and asks follow-up questions to help organize thoughts. The speaker has transcribed over 500,000 words, saving seven days of typing time.
   • Creator Grid: A platform to help creators learn, grow, and monetize, currently functioning as a brand deal marketplace.
   • Super Focus: The most exciting app, aiming to be the ultimate all-in-one productivity app for time management and goal achievement. It has 1,000 founding members providing daily feedback, and the team makes weekly improvements.

The speaker dedicates roughly one day a week to Super Focus, three days to the Lifestyle Business Academy, and one day to content creation. The software arm is seen as the monthly recurring revenue/enterprise value play, built with the discipline required for a potential sale, even if that's not the immediate goal.

New Office and Team Expansion

A year ago, the speaker rated work satisfaction at a six out of ten. The vision for a "ten out of ten" involved a vibrant office with filming studios and an in-person team. Initially, a small co-working space office was used, but as the Lifestyle Business Academy grew, the need for more space became apparent. This led to the decision to commit to Hong Kong and sign a three-year lease on a brand new office.

The new office is currently a construction site undergoing extensive renovations, costing around $200,000 USD. It will feature dedicated studios for the speaker and his wife, Izzy, a meeting room, a balcony, a pantry, and desk space. The renovation process has been exciting, marking a significant commitment and a departure from previous work-from-home or shared office setups.

The business, which started in 2012 with teaching medical school entrance exam courses in a living room, has evolved significantly. The YouTube channel, initially a marketing tool, grew into the main business after the medical school company was sold in 2019. The current expansion to a dedicated office with a team of 25 (10 in-person) is a monumental step.

Professionalizing the Team

As the business expands, so do the overheads and the pressure to perform. However, the speaker feels confident due to lessons learned from past mistakes, the excitement for the two main products (Lifestyle Business Academy and Super Focus), and a strong team. Izzy is now the CEO, Angus is the COO, and the speaker focuses on content and "the vibes."

The hiring philosophy has shifted from "young vibe people" to experienced senior leaders for various departments (client success, sales, marketing, product). This brings external expertise, reducing pressure on the core leadership and professionalizing the business as it aims to become the "world's best business school."

The speaker expresses gratitude to the audience, whose support, whether through watching content, subscribing, clicking sponsor links, or purchasing courses, has enabled the growth of the business to sustain a team of 25, a global audience of millions, and tens of thousands of students worldwide.

The ultimate goals remain: the Lifestyle Business Academy as the world's best online business school, Super Focus as a leading productivity app, and a world-class, vibrant team. Remote and in-person job roles are available.